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Around this time last year, I photographed the coolest baby shower at Restoration on King in downtown Charleston.

Let’s face it, no one is circling “baby shower” on the calendar and excitedly highlighting it with bright colors and arrows. I love how these days, friends are sure to show their love and excitement for each other, but reinvent time-honored traditions to make them fun for everyone. I knew this was no traditional shindig when the guys rolled in with the Yeti. Now it’s a party!

And the decor was fabulous. The oranges, yellows and and grays were the perfect hues to complement the open loft space. And while the vibe was chic and Lowcountry urban, they didn’t shy away from sweet, whimsical touches. It’s a baby shower, after all!

 

Well done, friends and family of John and Ashkia. You hit it out of the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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While compiling this series of photographs from the past year, I realized that I tend to like my images best when they are whimsical and/or dreamy. It’s hard to define one’s style, but I look back at this collection as well as collections from previous years and a theme is emerging for me. Lighthearted and romantic. Silly and soulful. Goofy and moody.

This explains why I’m obsessed with the dreamy imperfect look of freelensing, but also love to include a folder of outtakes to wedding clients. Why I’m just as likely to obsess over capturing the perfect blue sky and full moon shot as I am capturing the flower girl with a finger up her nose. Why a cinematic beach portrait in silhouette is great, but not necessarily better than snapping a slobbery dog mouth with a tennis ball 10 inches from the lens.

The best part of my job is that “my people” keep finding and trusting in me, year after year, and although I’m admittedly terrible about keeping up with my blog, I’m so excited to share some of the wonderful moments I’ve made, in collaboration with my Charleston clients, over the past year. This selection is from the past couple of months; I hope to share a lot more from the rest of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kate and Jonathan were married in the small garden at his mother’s home on Broad Street and took a horse and carriage ride to their reception at the Carolina Yacht Club.

I’ve always been outspoken about my love for weddings at home, so I was thrilled to be there. There’s such a lighthearted, personal feel.

Kate asked for very minimal posed photos and lots of candid moments. I was happy to do that, and their whole crew made it so easy, especially with all the adorable, camera-happy little ones running around!

 

 

 

 

 

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January for portrait photographers is like summer for teachers.

Preparations, desk work and continuing education are always a priority, but there’s also a little time to creatively meander, and it’s fabulous. Here’s to growth through downtime!

My goal this month is to dust off my film cameras- I don’t think I turned them on my children even once last year.

Dreary days are perfect for moody Holga and twin lens reflex images.

Meanwhile, here’s another collection of unpublished 2014 portraits. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I get nervous before every shoot.

We all do.

It’s a great thing-it keeps us on our toes. Packing lists to triple-check, meeting someone new, and the generalized anxiety of our responsibility to you and your family. It’s never something we take lightly, going into it.

Yet when I return from a wedding or family session, my husband will joke,

 

“Let me guess. They were the nicest and most interesting group you’ve ever met.  They were ‘totally precious and you just adored them all’, right?”

 

Yep. That’s how it always works.

Your hugs, expressions,  inside jokes, even the way you squabble. Each group has a unique fingerprint.

I can’t really explain it, but I think you are ALL the cat’s pajamas.

Some sessions and weddings have been blogged already, and a few weddings are still pending publication elsewhere, but here’s Part One one of a sampling of my 2014 work that I haven’t yet shared:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I met up with adorable Anna and Ian against this year at Folly Beach.

It’s funny. I always notice how much children have grown when I photograph them multiple times, but the difference between almost two year old twins and almost three year old twins is amazing. They were talking! And walking around like they owned the place! Crazy.

As we were making our way to the Morris Island Lighthouse overlook, we noticed smoke coming from the forested area between the lane and the beach.

Really, quite a lot of smoke. And popping noises.

Fascinating and a smidge frightening, but they were dressed and we were halfway there, so no turning back.

After we played on the beach for about 45 minutes, all the while hearing sirens and seeing the smoke steadily crawl the sky like a charcoal predator, we walked back and encountered the fire truck and and other bystanders.

Apparently someone drove onto the beach, started doing doughnuts in the sand, and flipped up onto the dunes, catching his engine on fire. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. But it’s a photo shoot none of us will soon forget.

Thanks, FBFD!

 

 

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It’s no secret that I love a rainy wedding day.

Preferable not ALL day, and of course I wouldn’t wish less-than-perfect weather on anyone. But when it does happen, I find the resulting images to be lighthearted, intimate, and romantic.

Whitney and Andy planned their Charleston destination wedding from California, where Andy is in the Air Force.

There’s a certain joyful, calm, festive atmosphere that accompanies most destination weddings, and this one was no different.

No stress, just fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whitney surprised Andy by renting this vintage car (Camaro? I think? Please let me know if you recognize it for sure!) for Andy to show up in and as their getaway car.

 

 

 

 

I love this shot.  Check out the dapper groomsman’s expression.

 

Apple butter wedding favors. Ask any wedding photographer-we love our wedding swag! Especially at destination weddings, guests tend to leave favors behind, so we’re often offered goodies on the way out. I’ve made shrimp and grits from gift bags of local grits, brought home candy to the kiddos, sipped personalized wine, added to our collection of monogrammed cups and koozies (yes, we really do use them, and remember our favorite moment or image from your wedding every time.) I wasn’t sure what to use the apple butter for at first, but one day I stirred it into an apple crisp I was throwing together. Delicious!

I’m not sure how safe this was, but it was one of my all-time favorite shots of last year. I love the Mad Men vibe.

 

 

 

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Ella Grace’s family has a history of having professional portraits made when a child turns 10. She is, I believe, the 3rd or 4th generation on her mother’s side to follow this lovely tradition.

I think it’s such a neat idea. I’ve written before about how the years between early teenhood and high school graduation tend to not be as well documented as the younger, chubbier, dimplier years. I love the idea of mindfully commemorating and celebrating a decade of laughter, running, playing-being *them*.

At ten, the jawline is starting to cast shadows, the elbows and anklebones are etched, the eyes are rolling, and the limbs attenuate. But the smiles are still those of our babies.

We started our Charleston portrait session near the Doc Street Theater, and worked our way down to the Waterfront Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This family photo session reminded me of a moment from my own parenting history.

When my middle daughter was two months old, I gently placed her into my sweet two year old son’s lap and snapped a few images of them together. When I announced, “We’re done!” my son nodded with satisfaction, and tumbled the baby onto the grass. There was no malice involved. He was just a roughshod two year old boy who’d been told he didn’t have to hold something anymore.

Jane didn’t even cry, she just lay there, face smushed on the lawn, making this hilarious, confused “Meeeh. Meeehhhhhh” sound as I quickly scooped her up.

The classic posed images are lovely heirlooms, but the images that encapsulate the heartwarming chaos of this era in the Chandler’s life, when the older children are full of love and enthusiasm but age-appropriately short on self-control, are the ones that crack me up. Finger to the eyeball! Yank your brother’s ear! Cautionary parental hands entering the frame!

Love it all. Look at all these beautiful babies. Blessed.

 

The Chandlers’ home in Bell Hall Plantation is stunning. I love that it’s a gorgeous design that still looks and feels homey, and reflects the reality that toddlers live there. (See the crayon on the wall?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Proud grandparents are the best! I photographed Carolyn’s family when her sons, daughter in law, and granddaughter were in town to visit. It was important for her to have time with her first grandchild documented. I love the colors this family wore. Add green grass, a lovely sunset, and a beach ball, and we had the perfect photo session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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